MENZZOO MAGAZINE

02/07/2020

NIGHTLIFE IN THAILAND REOPENS UNDER 'NEW NORMAL' RULES

Bangkok: Thailand’s nightlife scene is getting to grips with a ‘new normal’ as changes upon its recent reopening see facemasks joining the normal bikini wear in red-light districts across the Kingdom.

After being forced to close for more than 3 months,the reopening means a return to work for hundreds of thousands of people in the nightlife industry who have struggled to survive. “Bee,” a 27 year old dancer, who goes by her stage name at the XXX Lounge in the Patpong district, said:

“I lost all my income. I’m glad that I can come back to work in a job that I’m good at. I’m ok with the mask because it’s one of the precautions.”

All customers must have their temperature taken before entering, and must give a name and telephone number or register with the Thai Chana app. Inside, everybody must sit at least one metre apart, and 2 metres from the stage.

The government has staggered the reopening of public places including entertainment venues to curb the spread of covid-19, on July 1. Bars, clubs, go-go bars 'Karaoke' and soapy massage were granted permission to reopen.

Miss Dararat , a Bar and karaoke operator, said she’s relieved nightlife venues are being allowed to reopen, and has already put in place public health safety practices – she’s provided sanitiser gel for customers and microphones will be cleaned regularly, although customers are being advised to bring their own microphones. She says her premises will place tables in accordance with social distancing rules.

Mr. Somwang, a “soapy massage” operator says his business has made it mandatory for masseuses to wear face shields or masks while working, and his premises will be cleaned before and during opening hours.

Pattaya: Miss Saifon, a representative of the Pattaya Night Wish Group on Soi Six, which opened seven of their twenty nine bars, stated that their bars had been very steady despite the rain and lack of international tourists with expats and long stay tourists stuck in Thailand during the Covid-19 crisis. However, she also stressed that the group was using proper measures, had Thai Chana logs at every bar, proper hygiene checks, face masks and face shields for staff and were committed to proper cleaning and disinfecting of the bars on a regular basis. They were also complying with the midnight closure request.

Pattaya is known worldwide for its entertainment and hospitality industry, with an estimated eighty percent of the venues in the city marketed for tourism and entertainment related venues. However, due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus crisis, entertainment venues were ordered closed across Thailand since March 18, 2020. The Thai Government agreed on June 29th, to re-open entertainment venues such as bars, clubs, nightclubs, pubs, karaokes, hostess bars and similar establishments, albeit with strict rules and regulations.